KGI: …It was an exhausting roller coaster of a weekend consisting essentially of a battle between what most would label the establishment and progressive wings of the Democratic Party (less nuanced observers might say the corporate and the democratic socialist factions).

Upon arrival at the convention I discovered that the person competing for the position of Party Chair, Keali’i Lopez, is a registered lobbyist whose clients include the agrochemical industry.

You really can’t make this stuff up.

We spend years fighting this industry and now their lobbyist is going to be put in charge of our party?

Anger, shock and disbelief came together in me at that moment, fueling even greater personal resolve to ensure Tim’s victory.

As the events at the convention unfolded, I told myself that this could not be happening and that if the corporate lobbyist won, I was done with the Democratic Party. I would walk out of the convention, quit the party and just move on….

I have no reason to trust the intentions of the corp ag industry, who employ her as a lobbyist.

For five years I have watched them use every tool at their disposal, from threats to lawsuits, to thwart the community’s desire to shield their children from dangerous neurotoxins in pesticides sprayed near schools and homes. That is not going to change. Now their lobbyist is leading the Democratic Party. What should we anticipate them doing?…

While I had not gone to the convention with the intention of running for election to a party leadership position, the transition of leadership at the top of the party motivated me to run for and consequently be elected to the #2 slot, of vice-chair….

CB: The three candidates polling strongest so far in the race — incumbent Gov. David Ige, U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Clayton Hee, a former state senator — voted in 2005 to support the general excise tax surcharge that got rail going.

Since then, however, the three have taken different approaches to the state’s largest-ever public works project. Here’s a breakdown….

In Effort to Curry Favor with Council, SHOPO endorses Ernie Martin for 1st Congressional District

HNN: …The State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, which represents nearly 3,000 officers across the state, says Martin has been a consistent friend to law enforcement throughout his career.

“He understands the importance of a strong and well-funded police force that has the resources to protect the people of Hawai‘i. His commitment, his professionalism, and his strong track record are highly valued by SHOPO, and we look forward to continuing to work with him in the years to come,” said SHOPO President Malcolm Lutu, in a statement….

CB: Jonathan Fraser was recently named in a lawsuit involving a deadly car crash that killed a local businessman’s son.

Members of Fraser’s family have told local news outlets, including Hawaii News Now, that they suspected foul play was involved in his disappearance….

Fraser was recently named in a lawsuit filed by Michael Miske, a local businessman and former club owner with a violent criminal past that includes an assault charge for allegedly attacking an NFL football player with a champagne bottle.

That charge was eventually dismissed when the victim refused to return to Hawaii for trial.

The lawsuit stems from the death of Miske’s son, Caleb-Jordan Miske-Lee, who was a close friend of Fraser. According to the lawsuit, which Miske filed on behalf of his son’s estate, Miske-Lee and Fraser were involved in a car accident with another vehicle in Kaneohe in November 2015.

Miske-Lee succumbed to his injuries March 12, 2016. The lawsuit blames Miske-Lee’s death on the driver of the other vehicle, on the company that owned the vehicle and on Fraser.

The lawsuit states that Fraser was driving the car with Miske-Lee in the passenger seat when it collided with the other vehicle. But official documents related to the accident, including the autopsy report, indicated that Miske-Lee was found pinned in the driver’s seat wearing a seat belt.

Michael Miske has since been embroiled in a fight with Hawaii Kai community members over tree lighting he gifted to the city to honor his son. Concerns have been raised about the process Miske and the city engaged in that resulted in the tree being lighted without any public input….

HIO: Following the recommendations of the Affordable Health Insurance Working Group, lawmakers in Hawaii introduced legislation in 2018 to preserve various ACA protections and begin the process of seeking federal funding for a state-based reinsurance program. Lawmakers also considered the creation of a state-based individual mandate, and a bill to restrict the sale of short-term health insurance plans.….

MN: …The budget is around $62 million less than Mayor Alan Arakawa’s proposed budget of $820 million. It is also $53.1 million higher than this year’s council-approved budget of $705.2 million.

The full council approved its version of the budget on second and final reading in Council Chambers by an 8-0 vote, with Council Member Kelly King excused.

By law, the council has until June 10 to take action on the budget; otherwise the mayor’s proposal becomes law.

The new fiscal year begins July 1.

The mayor could sign off on the budget on Friday, said County Communications Director Rod Antone.

The budget includes trash and sewer fee increases, partial funding of around $44 million for the Wailuku civic complex, $5.9 million for the Kihei Wastewater Reclamation Facility grit system replacement, and the establishment of a Maui Interscholastic League Fees Fund to help high school athletes with travel costs. In a separate resolution passed earlier this month, the council approved property tax rates, which are the same or slightly lower than rates this fiscal year.

There were no budget amendments, so the spending plan approved Tuesday doesn’t differ from the one council members passed on first reading May 18.

SA: …After the homeless population around Mother Waldron swelled to about 40 or so people and their dogs, tents and tarps, the city shut down the park on Tuesday for six weeks of maintenance. It’s scheduled to reopen on June 6.

This morning, homeless belongings and trash remained inside Mother Waldron, which is now encircled in orange mesh fencing and is off limits.

People and their belongings and dogs instead were occupying the Diamond Head side of Cooke Street in front of ABC Stores’ corporate office and in front of the nearby BJ Penn UFC Gym on Pohukaina Street down to Keawe Street.

On Friday, five people who had been living in the area agreed to move into the city’s Hale Mauliola homeless navigation center on Sand Island, which accepts pets. Another person from Mother Waldron agreed to move into the Waianae Civic Center homeless shelter, said Scott Morishige, the state’s homeless coordinator.

Then on Tuesday, seven more people moved into Hale Mauliola: One went into Waikiki Health’s Next Step Shelter down South Street; and three moved into the Institute for Human Service’s women’s shelter in Iwilei, said city spokesman Andrew Pereira.